Wallet or similar article

ABSTRACT

A wallet of thin flexible material for credit cards, photographs and the like. The wallet is formed from three panels to provide two rows of pockets separated by a longitudinal fold line. A transverse fold line extends across the middle of the wallet between adjacent pockets to allow the wallet to be folded along one of the fold lines and then along the other fold line into a convenient size for carrying in a person&#39;&#39;s pocket.

United States Patent Erwin Lionel Miller Willowdale, Ontario, Canada 837,606

June 30, 1969 Feb. 23, 1971 Weldo Plastics (Canada) Limited Toronto, Ontario, Canada Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee WALLET 0R SIMILAR ARTICLE 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 150/39 Int. Cl l A45c 11/18 Field of Search ISO/39, 34; 206/39 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,767,756 10/1956 Niles 150/39 2,788,041 4/1957 Carver 150/39 3,187,795 6/1965 Stephenson 150/39 Primary Examiner Donald F. Norton Anarney Rogers, Bereskin & Parr ABSTRACT: A wallet of thin flexible material for credit cards, photographs and the like. The wallet is formed from three panels toprovide two rows of pockets separated by a longitudinal fold line. A transverse fold line extends across the middle of the wallet between adjacent pockets to allow the wallet to be folded along one of the fold lines and then along the other fold line into a convenient size for carrying in a persons pocket.

- PATENTEU FEB23 [9n WALLET OR SIMILAR ARTICLE This invention relates to a wallet for containing articles such as credit cards, photographs and the like.

Cards such as identification cards, credit cards, and photographs are commonly carried in wallets or folders. Although there are many different styles of wallets, in general conventional wallets tend to become rather bulky when a large number of cards is to stored.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a wallet that can store a relatively large number of cards without becoming unduly bulky, that is convenient to use, and which is relatively economical to manufacture.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wallet is provided with a plurality of pockets arranged side by side in two rows divided by a longitudinal fold line, the number of pockets in eachrow being a multiple of two. A transverse fold'line divides the wallet into two equal parts so that the wallet can be folded about the longitudinal fold line and then about the transverse fold line to permit it to he slipped easily into a pocket. The wallet is then four pockets thick. 1 t

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. I is a plan view of anopen wallet;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4are sequence-drawings illustrating the folding of a wallet; and 1 I FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the shape the wallet as sumes after it has been in use for some time.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which shows a generally rectangular wallet laid out flat. The wallet IO comprises a firstlongitudinal row of pockets. 12 and a second row of pockets 14. A longitudinal fold line 16 and a transverse fold line 18 divide the wallet into four parts for folding as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The fold lines 16 and 18 meet at a circular cutout 20 which relieves the folding stresses at the intersection of the fold lines 16 and 18.

Next, reference is made to FIG. 2 which illustrates the construction of the wallet. The pockets 12 are formed from a relatively narrow first panel of transparent plastic 22 and a second panel 24 of transparent plastic which has a width somewhat larger than twice the width of the panel 22. The panel 22 is heat sealed to the inner or upper side of the wide panel 24 along a common longitudinal outer edge 26 and along a plurality of spaced-apart parallel transverse weld lines 30 which define the pockets [2 (FIG. I). A relatively wide central transverse weld line 30' helps to strengthen the fold line 18.

The pockets 14 are formed from the transparent second panel 24 and an opaque third panel of plastic 32 welded to the outer or lower side of the second panel 24. The panels 22 and 32 therefore lie on opposite sides of the panel 24. The panels 24, 32 are connected by a relatively wide longitudinal weld 34 containing the fold line 16 and a plurality of transverse weld lines 36 similar to the weld lines 30.

The row of pockets 14 is longer than the row 12 by a predetermined equal amount at each end. The difference in the length of the rows improves the appearance of the folded wallet as willbe described. Also, the periphery of the wallet which includes the weld line 26, the two outer weld lines 30, and the two outer weld lines 36, is finished to give a stitched appearance, as is common in plastic goods of this sort.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which shows the wallet 10 folded about its longitudinal fold line 16. The wallet is closed by folding in the direction of arrow 38 until the pockets 12 rest on the pockets 14. The wallet is then folded about the transverse fold line 18 as indicated in FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrow 40 until the pockets 12 which are above the transverse fold line 18 rest on the pockets 12 which are below the fold line 18. The folded wallet now has a length and width substantially equal to half the length and width of the open wallet, and a thickness which includes four pockets and their contents. The opaque panel 32 is exposed on both sides of the folded wallet, and also along the fold line 18 and at the ends of the wallet because the opaque panel 32 is longer than'the transparent panel 22 so that it hides the transparent material. The opaque panel 32 can be made of imitation leather or the like so that the folded wallet gives the impression of a leather wallet, or else any other decorative vinyl material or vinyl backed material could be used, as desired.

Cards 42 placed back to back in the pockets I2 can be viewed from both sides when the wallet is open, whereas cards placed in the pockets 14 can be viewed from the top only. However, if required, the wallet can bemade entirely from transparent material to permit a larger number of cards to be exposed to view.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which illustrates the form of the wallet in use. Because the fold line 16 (FIG. 1) is reinforced by the relatively wide weld 34, the wallet tends to open into the shape shown so thatthere is an S-shaped fold between the rows of pockets. The S-shaped fold causes the ends of the cards 42 to stand up clear of the wallet thereby affording easy removal when required. This is particularly useful for credit cards which usually must be taken out of the wallet whenever they are used.

The wallet can be made larger by increasing the number of pockets in each row provided that the final number of pockets is a multiple of two to allow folding. Also the number of rows of pockets can be increased, in which case broad longitudinal weld lines are provided between the rowsto allow the wallet to be folded. To close the wallet, it is folded along the longitudinal fold lines until it is one row wide and the the final fold is made along the transverse fold line.

I claim:

1. A wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like comprising: generally rectangular first,,second and third panels of approximately the same length, said first and third panels having substantially the same width, the width of said second panel being substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said first and third panels; a longitudinal fold line formed at about the middle of said second panel, said first panel being attached to said second panel along a plurality of parallel lines to form a row of pockets on one side of said fold line, and said third panel being attached to said second panel along a plurality of parallel lines to form a second row of pockets on the other side of said fold line; and a transverse fold line which approximately bisects said first, second and third panels, whereby said wallet can be folded on one of said fold lines and then folded on the other of said fold lines, said fold lines being positioned between adjacent pockets so that no pocket is deformed when said wallet is folded.

2. A wallet is claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said rows contains the same number of pockets, and the number of pockets in each row is a multiple of two.

7 3. A wallet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first panel overlies said second panel and said second panel overlies said third panel when said wallet is open.

4. A wallet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second panels are transparent and said third panel is opaque, said third panel having a width slightly greater than half the width of said wallet so that at least aportion of said third panel extends beyond said longitudinal fold line, and wherein said second row is slightly longer than said first row, so that when said wallet is folded said opaque third panel conceals said transparent first and second panels.

5. A wallet as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fold lines intersect at a small hole formed in said second and third panels.

6. A generally rectangular wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like, said wallet having two parallel longitudinal edges and two parallel transverse edges, a longitudinal fold line generally parallel to the longitudinal edges of said wallet, and a transverse fold line generally parallel to the transverse edges of said wallet, said transverse fold line meeting said longitudinal fold line at a small hole formed in said wallet, a first row of pockets formed between one of said longitudinal edges and one side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being pr parallel to and adjacent said longitudinal fold line; a second row of pockets formed between the other of said longitudinal edges and the other side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said other of said longitudinal edges.

5. A wallet as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fold lines intersect at a small hole formed in said second and third panels.

6. A generally rectangular wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like, said wallet having two parallel longitudinal edges and two parallel transverse edges, a longitudinal fold line generally parallel to the longitudinal edges of said wallet, and a transverse fold line generally parallel to the transverse edges of said wallet, said transvers fold line meeting said longitudinal fold line at a small hole formed in said wallet, a first row of pockets formed between one of said longitudinal edges and one side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said longitudinal fold line; a second row of pockets formed between the other of said longitudinal edges and the other side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said other of said longitudinal edges. 

1. A wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like comprising: generally rectangular first, second and third panels of approximately the same length, said first and third panels having substantially the same width, the width of said second panel being substantially equal to the sum of the widths of said first and third panels; a longitudinal fold line formed at about the middle of said second panel, said first panel being attached to said second panel along a plurality of parallel lines to form a row of pockets on one side of said fold line, and said third panel being attached to said second panel along a plurality of parallel lines to form a second row of pockets on the other side of said fold line; and a transverse fold line which approximately bisects said first, second and third panels, whereby said wallet can be folded on one of said fold lines and then folded on the other of said fold lines, said fold lines being positioned between adjacent pockets so that no pocket is deformed when said wallet is folded.
 2. A wallet is claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said rows contains the same number of pockets, and the number of pockets in each row is a multiple of two.
 3. A wallet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first panel oVerlies said second panel and said second panel overlies said third panel when said wallet is open.
 4. A wallet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second panels are transparent and said third panel is opaque, said third panel having a width slightly greater than half the width of said wallet so that at least a portion of said third panel extends beyond said longitudinal fold line, and wherein said second row is slightly longer than said first row, so that when said wallet is folded said opaque third panel conceals said transparent first and second panels.
 5. A wallet as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fold lines intersect at a small hole formed in said second and third panels.
 5. A wallet as claimed in claim 4 wherein said fold lines intersect at a small hole formed in said second and third panels.
 6. A generally rectangular wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like, said wallet having two parallel longitudinal edges and two parallel transverse edges, a longitudinal fold line generally parallel to the longitudinal edges of said wallet, and a transverse fold line generally parallel to the transverse edges of said wallet, said transvers fold line meeting said longitudinal fold line at a small hole formed in said wallet, a first row of pockets formed between one of said longitudinal edges and one side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said longitudinal fold line; a second row of pockets formed between the other of said longitudinal edges and the other side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said other of said longitudinal edges.
 6. A generally rectangular wallet of thin flexible material for cards or the like, said wallet having two parallel longitudinal edges and two parallel transverse edges, a longitudinal fold line generally parallel to the longitudinal edges of said wallet, and a transverse fold line generally parallel to the transverse edges of said wallet, said transverse fold line meeting said longitudinal fold line at a small hole formed in said wallet, a first row of pockets formed between one of said longitudinal edges and one side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being pr parallel to and adjacent said longitudinal fold line; a second row of pockets formed between the other of said longitudinal edges and the other side of said longitudinal fold line, said pockets being closed along three sides and open along a fourth side, said fourth side being parallel to and adjacent said other of said longitudinal edges. 